You already know them from televised wrestling events, home and arcade video games, and even their own movies (such as Hulk Hogan's "Suburban Commando" and Andre the Giant's "The Princess' Bride"). Now for the first time ever you can get to know the World Wrestling Federation superstuds up-close- and-personal-like on a 16-bit screen near you. Yeah baby, it's WWF Super WrestieMania by UN for the SNES! But whether this game struts the real stuff a just talks or yet to be seen.

Personality Clash

You choose from ten of your favorite WWF ring rockers: Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Hulk Hogan, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, The Undertaker, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, Sid Justice, both members of The Legion of Doom Hawk and Animal, and both members of The Natural Disasters Earthquake and Typhoon. These wrestle freaks are ready to rumble. The question is: Are you?

Mat mania

Each grappler looks like his real-life counterpart, thanks to cool digitized images and movement. The ring and audience scrolling is smooth but not overly spectacular. Accompanying theme songs, such as Hogan's "I Am a Real American," are hot, but the in-game grunt sounds are not.

Pick a Fight, Any Fight

You select your battle from a regular One-on-One match, a Tag Team two- grappler- face-off, or a full blown Four-on- Four Tag Team called the Survivor Series, in which each foe must be eliminated individually. Unfortunately, there is no tournament or championship bout modes available, so it's one match and out every time. One player can take on the computer or two can face off against each other.

Off the Top Rope

An awesome assortment of kicks, punches, grabs, holds, and other moves is essential to any pro wrestling game's success. The good news is Super WWF provides a total of 16 attacks; some are used while running, others while standing

The Final Cut

If yer not into big brawlers and bigger pain, go home and stuff a sweatsock in it, this game is not for you, pencil-neck geek! But if you are a WWF buff, you probably wanna know whatcha gonna do when UN's version of Hulkamania tries to run wild on you? Even with the prayers, the training, the vitamins, and of course the power of a 16-bit processor, WWF Super WrestleMania isn't the ultimate grappling title.

While Super WrestleMania's visuals are boffo, the play controls are a mite sluggish. Overall, you don't get enough moves and the lack of tournament play is a drawback. This game is not a Heavyweight champ but more like an Intercontinental contender. So only if you're a diehard pro wrestling muscle head, get pumped. Get psyched. Get the WWF!

Other games bySculptured Software

WWF Super Wrestlemania Downloads

Pin Earlier In Match - Get your opponent down to a little below half of his energy. Once you do this, and you get him down on the mat, press the X button to pin him and then immediately hold UP on the control pad while holding the Y button. The referee will count to three and your opponent will not be able to get up off of the mat! You can do this with one player against the computer, or in a two player game against an opponent, but it will not work with the Tag Team or Survivor Series.

reggie posted a review

The WWF is definitely in a league of its own. As a matter of fact, the league is so big, it couldn't be confined to just the NES and the SNES systems. The Genesis and the WWF's most famous wrestlers have been tagged to climb into the ring as Flying Edge brings your favorite bad boys to blistering 16-bit life.

Masters of Disaster

All the usual suspects are rounded up here: Randy "Macho Man" Savage, the British Bulldog, Ted "Million Dollar Man" Dibiase, Shawn Michaels, and Papa Shango, to name a few. Chill out Hulkamaniacs, the original Hulkster is back and badder than ever. If you've played the SNES version, you're already familiar with the guys' smooth moves. Each wrestler has a basic punch and kick move, plus one power move. You can also inflict some motion mayhem by throwing opponents against the ropes, into the turn-buckle, and even out of the ring.

ProTips:

Don't just stand and wait for the action to come to you. When you down a man, stand dose and press A to yank your opponent by the hair. Your chances of immediately downing him again are very high.

Your man has the advantage when he leans forward in a lockup. Early in each round, use Button B to throw your opponent around. Save the power moves for later in the round.

As in the SNES version, the Genesis game sports four types of game play for one or two big-time wrestlers. One-on- One (you vs. the computer or a friend) pits python against python in a one- round super battle. Tag Teams lets you call for backup when the going gets tough, and it will. Survivor Series is a three-on-three, winner-take-all brawl. Finally, the Championship Series is your chance to battle your way to WWF glory.

Roll, roll, roll your bod when you're downed. Your opponents will try to stomp the stuffing out of you. Roll (Button A plus Direction) as soon as you go down and you'll avoid a size 12 sneaker stamp on your forehead.

Flat on the Mat

With all this beef and brawn, you'd think a gamer's appetite would be satisfied. Not! This game leaves you wanting. Although the game play and side-scrolling action are smooth and easy to execute, WWF's graphics and sound aren't good enough to win the 16-bit championship belt. Digitized graphics of the wrestlers at the beginning of the game are nice, but their personalities blur once they climb into the ring. In the SNES version of the game, the wrestler graphics were crisp. Not so in the Genesis game. Your wrestlers are featureless and pretty much indistinguishable from each other. As for the sounds, well a few more groans, body contact grunts, or fanatic fan noise would've been helpful.

The more your opponent's life bar wears out, the longer it takes for him to get up. When you've got him on the ropes with a low life bar, use a leg drop to wipe him out completely. Never go for a pin until your opponent's life bar is empty.

Headbanger Ball

If you want to go head-to-head against any of your pro-wrestling favs, this is the only Genesis game in town. For the best big-time action and challenge, go head- to-head against a friend. If you don't have another WWF bruiser sitting around the house waiting to do you some damage, you may want to leave this game in the ring.